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LAURA JO SUTLIFFE
Words & Music Copyright 2005 By NED ALLEN ROUSE

In 1966 your posters went up and the mystery began
What happened to Laura Jo Sutliffe, beloved daughter, sister, and friend
By late 1967 she would have laid in that shallow grave longer still
If that predator hadn’t chosen another young girl that he would also viciously kill

Laura Jo was mild mannered, and kind, played with trolls as her toys
Like many girls in their early teens, yet to discover boys
How her family loved her so, and then discovered her gone
She never went anywhere without her Pekingese dog, something was wrong

For Laura Jo played with toys and Theodore Williams did not
An absolute victim, what was forced, was what she got
She would not have understood his dark motives, but was taken in fear
Just to be murdered, and buried, then lost for over a year

The pain that it caused, the loss was so immense
Many families were fearful, and wondering, were their kids going to be next
But like a shark in the water Theodore did what sharks do
The killer of Sonya Santa Cruz was caught, and confessed to Laura Jo’s murder too

I remember his face from the papers, and on the news
It terrified us kids when we learned the horrible truth
I stared at his picture, that married demon with kids
Only charged in the other girls death, and the laws let him out, then back in
Out In Out In
Never to go on to college, work jobs, or become a lady
Laura Jo was to never be dated, to be married, or have a baby
Her mother would not be at her wedding, or get to see her grow
Just visiting her grave, what, back then, did an innocent child know

In 1966 your posters went up and the mystery began
What happened to you Laura Jo Sutliffe, beloved daughter, sister, and friend
In the most painful of years, there was the most difficult test
But love brought Laura Jo Sutliffe home, so she could finally be laid to rest

I was thirteen years old when Laura Jo Sutliffe disappeared. In the fifteen months that followed, up to the discovery of her remains in White Cloud, the Sparta Michigan area was startled, and scared. Many hoped, and prayed for her safe return, in support of her family. There was no happy ending to this story. Theodore Williams caused so much pain, and hurt, to many other lives outside of his two heartless murders. Laura Jo was a good friend to my wife, Sara. Sara goes through hell every time this tragedy plays out. Sara always tells me of Laura Jo’s kind spirit, soft-spoken nature, and how much her family loved her. She loved music boxes and playing with her Troll dolls. What I remember are Laura Jo’s many posters on the telephone poles, the false sightings reported, and the efforts of so many to find her. I read the articles, and heard of the hell her mother endured, not knowing, and then knowing, her daughter’s fate. Theodore Williams was to never be charged in Laura Jo's death, only the Cruz murder. Laura Jo and her family never received justice. Recently we visited Laura Jo’s grave to remember her life. There were beautiful flowers on this well kempt grave. God bless Laura Jo, her family, and the mark she was able to make in her short, sweet life.

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Song List	Order This CD by Clicking the Button Below:
From Now On
Laura Jo Sutliffe
Human Tradition
Light The Sun
Magic Crayolas
I Am So Glad I Knew You
A Curmudgeon In Geezerville
Pygar
You Might Be A Nedwreck
So Many Miles
The Richard Millhouse Nixon Blues
At The End Of My Rainbow